Rangel To Accept Deal

George Wenschhof

A New York station; WCBS is reporting a deal may have been reached between Representative Charles Rangel's attorneys and the attorneys for the House Ethics committee.

If so, it is likely the details will be released when the House Ethics committee holds it's public meeting later this afternoon.

A deal would most likely include some admission of guilt along with possibly a censure of Rangel.

However, a public trial would be avoided which would detail the various accusations which include failure to report income and possible misuse of low-rent apartments. Democratic leadership is wary of a public trial with mid term elections taking place this fall.

We will update this story when the Ethics committee meets later today.

No deal had been reached when the House Ethics Committee met and 13 charges against Representative Charles Rangel were entered into the record - while none of the charges involved corruption, the charges were many, ranging from using office stationary to solicit funds for a library, failing to report income from overseas rentals, to improper use of low income housing units.

The trial, if continued, would not begin until after the August recess. House rules also prohibit a trial taking place within 30 days of an election, which means the trial would have to be concluded by October 3 or suspended until after the General Election to be held on November 2.

5:00 PM ET Update - AP reporting lawyers reach agreement on plea deal - however, members of the Ethics committee still have to approve the agreement, which was not disclosed. The committee consists of 8 members, 4 Republicans and 4 Democrats. Some Republican members were quick to say no to agreeing to the deal. Unless, at least one Republican and all four Democrats agree to the agreement reached by the attorneys, the trial will proceed.

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